The Game-Changing Trick You Need To Use On Store-Bought Hummus

Ina Garten, the celebrity chef who hosts Food Network's "Barefoot Contessa" always says, "Store-bought is fine," but when it comes to hummus, that's not always the case. Inspired Taste explains hummus is a tasty dip, traditionally made by using chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic, cumin, salt, and a drizzle of olive oil. Per Spruce Eats, hummus has been a part of the Mediterranean diet for centuries. It is a food that has been claimed by many cultures, but historians believe its origin story most likely began in Egypt. 

Regardless, this spread has become so ubiquitous you can purchase mass produced versions at your local grocery store. In fact, according to the Nebo Agency, hummus started having its moment in the United States in 1986 when the makers of Sabra, which is now the largest commercial producer of this dip, first stepped into this market space. Their initial plan was to simply market their product to Israelis living in the U.S., but hummus soon found itself quite popular with Americans. 

Fast forward to 2018, and per NPR, Americans spent $800 million on hummus. However, if you are a fan of the store-bought version of hummus but find its texture a little less than creamy when you take it out of the fridge, we have a game-changing trick.

While homemade hummus may be preferable, sometimes you just don't have time to make it and Garten is right: Store bought really is fine. But you may notice that your store bought hummus can be a little thicker than when you make it yourself. The Washington Post explains that this happens in part because hummus is not meant to be refrigerated. It is meant to be made and consumed same day. However, the outlet revealed that you can solve this problem with the microwave and a little hot water, or if you happen to have some leftover aquafaba, which is leftover liquid from cooked chickpeas. 

How does it work? The Food Guys recommend using a couple of teaspoons of water and heating your hummus for short 10-second intervals until you achieve your taste bud's desired consistency. Another trick for sprucing up your grocery store hummus involves Greek yogurt. Per Food 52, you can also take a couple of tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt and add it to your store bought hummus to give it that smooth, delicious texture that is synonymous with this dip.